Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and the Italian Arsenale Group, which specializes in managing luxury train trips, agreed to launch the Dream of the Desert luxury train service in Saudi Arabia. The Dream of the Desert train, which will have 40 luxury cabins and a maximum capacity of 80 passengers, is due to arrive in Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2025, with the first paying guests scheduled to depart in November 2025.

Dr. Bashar Al-Malik, CEO of SAR, and Paolo Barletta, CEO of the board of directors of Arsenale Group, signed an agreement in this regard recently in a ceremony held in the presence of Minister of Transport and Logistics and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser.

The agreement aims to implement a memorandum of understanding signed between the two parties on March 15, 2023. The first luxury train for “rail cruising” across Saudi Arabia will be operational on a 770-mile route from Riyadh, passing through Hail, to the northern city of Al-Qurayat, close to the border with Jordan.

Speaking on the occasion, Al-Jasser said that the launch of the luxury train services in the Kingdom for the first time in the Middle East and North Africa region, will add qualitative services and additional options in the transportation sector in the Kingdom. “This agreement is one of the initiatives of the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services to improve the quality of life and support leading national strategies,” he said.

The minister highlighted the great and unlimited support that the transportation and logistics services system received from the wise leadership in enabling the sector to achieve its service and development projects and initiatives. He appreciated the cooperation and joint integration between the system and various parties in this field to develop transportation patterns and improve the beneficiary’s experience.

Dr. Al-Malik stressed SAR’s commitment to its pioneering national role in implementing qualitative initiatives emanating from the company’s strategy linked to the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services, noting that the Dream of the Desert luxury train will represent a great addition to the company’s services as it adds an important tourism and entertainment option to the list of services provided to its customers. This will also provide the opportunity for visitors and residents in the Kingdom to discover more regions of the Kingdom within an integrated framework of luxurious transportation services.

On his part Barletta, said that the initial production stages of the Dream of the Desert train had recently begun in Italy in preparation for entering service according to the announced plan. He said the luxury train will provide Orient Express-style luxury travel.

It is noteworthy that Arsenale Group, which invested more than SR200 million in the Dream of the Desert train, is an Italian company specialized in luxury hospitality, international hotel and resort management, and luxury travel, and is working on sustainable projects for luxury services through tourist trains with a fleet of six trains operating in Italy.